As part of the NRT's 50th Anniversary celebration, a series of home skills workshops are scheduled for anyone looking to learn more about any one of our upcoming topics, including:Battling invasive speciesBackyard beekeeping (2 classes available)Composting for beginnersFun family paint nights (2 classes available)Meet the NRT Farm AnimalsNRT campfire sing alongRegistration is required for some workshops, so visit the NRT online to read more about the classes scheduled, as well as for downloadable registration forms!Registration is now open for all classes in June-September.

Last minute spaces for our Beginners Gardening class on Tuesday, May 23rd are still available. Call the NRT office to register at 508-238-6049.

Leaves of threeLet it be!Leaves of fiveLet it thrive!- Rhyme to identify poison ivy

Poison ivy (and other poisonous plants such as oak and sumac) are familiar to just about anyone who spends time in the outdoors. From backyards to woodlots poison ivy makes its home in just about every natural area available. Due to favorable weather and climate conditions, poison ivy in the New England area seems happier, healthier,and more vigorous than every before, with many people reporting uncontrollable growth of the plants. Any and every outdoor location likely has poison ivy hiding or thriving somewhere.

But just why is poison ivy such a problem? If you are one of the few people that doesn't get the itchy, miserable rash, consider yourself lucky. Scientists say that the reason interactions with any part of the poison ivy plant can cause red, itchy rashes on skin is due to the presence of urushiol, an oil naturally produced as a defense by the plant. This oil is found in all areas of the plant, from leaves and berries to stems and roots, so touching just about any part of the plant has the potential to make you itchy. Even during winter dormancy or when the plant is completely dead the oil is present in parts of the vine, so having a 'hands off' policy is always a good idea when it comes to this plant.

It can be very difficult to remove the ivy's oil from your skin once you have made contact with it. Most regular hand soaps are ineffective, but there are special soaps that are specifically made to break down the oils and remove them before they irritate skin. After exposure, most rashes go away in a few days or longer, and most people respond well to over-the-counter treatments. Folk tales even suggest that soaking in salt water can help hasten healing, so maybe a mild ivy rash is a good excuse to head to the beach (whether it works or not!)

If you have a severe or prolonged reaction to poison ivy, seeing a doctor is important. For a few people the rash can continue to get worse and worse and must be treated with prescription medication before an infection sets in.

For more information on recognizing, treating, and avoiding poison ivy visit these websites by clicking on each:

It's likely that you've heard the term "invasive species" in any number of sources- on the news, in articles, online, and even on this blog. But what are invasive species, and why are they such a problem?

What are invasive species?Invasive species can be any organism, including plants, animals, and microbes, that is not native to the place where it is living and has a negative effect on the area that it has begun living in. That effect can be on other plants or animals in the area, on people, or on the economic health of the community. Organisms that live in a healthy native habitat, without causing any damage to the environment or economy of a location, can be considered invasive if they move or are brought into a different habitat where they cause problems.

Invasive species can be found in almost all environments, including marine, forests, freshwater, and others. Invasive species don't all look like the invader pictured above, either. Some are actually quite cute and

How do species get to new places? Invasive species can be moved into new places by a number of different ways- some intentional, and some not. species can be spread unknowingly in the holds of cargo ships, in materials brought from one area of the country or world to another area, or on vehicles that move through different locations. Untreated wood products can move insects, fungi, or viruses to new areas. Other kinds of organisms can spread through the sale of certain plants as ornamental plantings which then begin to enter the native environment and overtake local plants. Still other sources of invasive species come from the pet trade, where animals from exotic places are often considered desirable a pets-until they are released into the ecosystem, where they begin to harm other native species.

What happens when invasive species get into new places?The amount of impact a specific "invader" will have on an ecosystem depends on the rate that it expands into the ecosystem and the amount of damage it causes. One of the most often covered stories of destruction by invasive species follows the damage caused by Burmese pythons, which have become part of the Everglades in Florida; even the USGS has released a report detailing the destruction they can cause. These snakes, once pets and released into the wild through a number of different events, have become a major new predator in the environment, causing havoc with native birds, mammals, and even other snakes. Efforts are underway to control their spread, but scientists feel that there are already breeding populations in the Everglades, and that eradicating them will be extremely difficult, if not impossible.

But damaged caused by invasives does not always have to be quite as dramatic as 20 foot snakes invading a major natural area. Invasive species may take years to demonstrate the effect they are having on a place- and by the time they are found, it may be too late to remove them. In an article published in US News and World Report, Cornell University reported a study that found the "the US spends almost $120 billion a year" trying to control tens of thousands of invasive species.

What Can I Do to Help Control Invasive Species?There are a number of things everyone can do to help control the spread of unwanted species. Here are five tips:

Never release any pet or captive-bred animal into the native area, including turtles, fish, insects, reptiles, birds or mammals.

Learn more about which species of plants and animals are on your state's list of invasive species. Remember- some organisms are invasive in one area, but not in others, so it's important to know your native space. Visit Mass.gov to learn more about Massachusetts' invasives and management practices that can help stop them.

Be aware of your location. Some invasives, such as the emerald ash borer, Asian longhorned beetle, and others, require everyone's vigilance to prevent. These insects can infest woodlands quickly, with little notice until the damage is done. By being aware of the forest health in your local area, you can report a problem before it gets bigger. Visit MassWoods Outsmart Invasives program for information on how you can be part of the invasives solution with your smartphone.

Don't move firewood from outside of your local area. Untreated firewood can carry insects and diseases that can spread to living trees while it is stacked outdoors.

Don't purchase invasives. If a particular animal or plant is banned in your region or state, there is likely a good reason for it's removal. Seeking other routes to obtaining these plants or animals, no matter how attractive they may be, is illegal and also becomes part of the larger invasive species problem.

With the world becoming smaller through the ability of people to move around the globe quickly and easily, it's unlikely that invasive species will ever stop completely. However, by being vigilant about the ways we can each stop the spread of outside organisms in the natural world, we can each be part of the invasive species solution.